[Biological rhythms and psychiatric syndromes].
Life is ruled by biological rhythms, themselves controlled by oscillators at different levels of organizations. Some of these oscilators are considered as strong pacemakers while others are weak pacemakers. Body harmony requires synchronisation of these rhythms. Chronobiology and psychiatry are linked. Indeed daily rhythms of melancholic symptoms are observed as well as seasonal rhythms of seasonal affective disorders for example. This chronobiological influence is also noticed on biological parameters such as hormonal and monoamine systems. A change in one of these rhythms can lead to a general dysfunction. Then different therapeutics can help the body to "resynchronize its clock", using for example sleep deprivation, phototherapy or psychotropics.
Vandel
P
P
Service de psychiatrie et psychologie médicale CHU, hôpital Saint-Jacques, Besançon.
Boiteux
J
J
Sechter
D
D
D002909:Chronobiology Phenomena; D019454:Chronotherapy; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy
Rythmes biologiques et syndromes psychiatriques.